Central Europe

Slovak Republic - overview:
The Slovak Republic is no mere adjunct to the Czech Republic. It is well deserving of attention in its own right. It is a country that sweeps from the mighty Tatra Mountains through lowlands, canyons, caves and meadows. There are year-round activities, from hiking in the summer to skiing in the winter, and its capital, Bratislava, is a highlight amongst a sprinkling of appealing towns and cities.

The Slovak Republic may have been the 'junior partner' throughout its alliance with the Czech Republic, but it is now emerging as part of the expanded EU and is an increasingly popular business and leisure destination.

The separation of Czechoslovakia into its constituent parts (the Czech and Slovak Republics) on 1 January 1993 in the 'Velvet Divorce' was achieved peacefully. It had not been a long marriage as at the end of WWI, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved, came the birth of Czechoslovakia. WWII brought Nazi occupation with the Russians moving in during the aftermath to make Czechoslovakia part of the Soviet Union.

Democracy finally came in 1990 with the appointment of Václav Havel as president. However, the Slovaks were worried about the crash economic reform programme planned by Havel and the two nations parted amicably.

Czech Republic - overview:
A historic jewel hidden away at the heart of Europe, the Czech Republic packs a lot of punch for such a small country. No bigger than Scotland or South Carolina, it's crammed with fairytale castles, medieval towns, elegant spa resorts and scenic national parks. And on top of all that, it's the birthplace of the world's finest beer.

Part of Czechoslovakia until the 'Velvet Divorce' of 1993, the Czech Republic encompasses the ancient lands of Bohemia and Moravia, and boasts a rich cultural heritage represented by the likes of classical composer Antonin Dvorak and writer Franz Kafka.

Almost everyone who visits the Czech Republic goes to Prague, with its imposing castle, great museums and galleries, jazz clubs and concerts and other attractions. Many day trips are possible from here, including the spa resort of Karlovy Vary, the historic towns of Mělník and Kutná Hora, and castles like Karlštejn and Konopiště.

But the rest of the country has just as much to offer the independent traveller, with no fewer than 11 UNESCO World Heritage sites including the picture-postcard town of Český Krumlov, the chateaux and landscaped gardens of Lednice-Valtice, and the Renaissance architecture of Telč.

Among the most beautiful scenic areas are the Šumava National Park in the southwest, which takes in the forested mountains and lakes around the headwaters of the Vltava River, the weird and wonderful rock pinnacles and gorges of the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks in the northeast, and the spectacular caves and underground rivers of the Moravian Karst in the southeast.

The rich agricultural area of Moravia in the eastern half of the country offers rolling ranges of wooded hills, vineyards, folk art and yet more castles. Here wine is more popular than beer - a speciality of Bohemia - and life moves at an even more relaxed pace.

Slovenia - overview:
One of the smallest countries in Europe, Slovenia more than justifies the 'Europe in Miniature' hype. Tucked in an enviable geographical position between the Alps and the Mediterranean, it is blessed with spectacular mountains, thick forests and an Adriatic coastline.

Following the destruction of the Austro-Hungarian Empire during WWI, Slovenia became a part of the new 'Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes' in 1918, later Yugoslavia. After WWII, Tito created Socialist Yugoslavia. Following his death in 1980, the economic and political situation deteriorated and led to a series of regional conflicts in the early 1990s. Slovenia was the first republic to break away, achieving independence relatively peacefully in 1991.

Slovenia was always the most prosperous region in Yugoslavia and it has successfully made the transition from a socialist economy to a capitalist free market one: it was first of the former Yugoslavian states to join the EU in 2004 and adopted the euro in 2007.

Picturesque Ljubljana, the capital, is the starting point for a wide range of excursions. Situated in the heart of Slovenia, draped along the banks of the Ljubljanica River, the capital is within a two-hour drive of all the state borders.